Knifemaking Definitions Project

[Ray Rogers]

The purpose of this thread is to provide guidance and establish a consensus on a question that is asked by almost every Newbie and by some of the old timers as well. That question is:

"Can I say my knives are handmade?"


This question has been kicked around so many times on these forums I wouldn't be surprised if it constitutes 10% of the total database and yet there is still no definitive answer for it. The reason for this is simple: there is no recognized authority that can provide a definition that will be accepted by everyone.

There is another way to define words and that is by consensus of opinion and usage. That's how new words find their way into the Oxford Dictionary every year and it will work for us too if YOU want it to. If you want to help define and refine these terms, read the 'Why Should You Care' section at the end of this post.


Here are the definitions as they stand now:

Knife Maker - An individual who makes and assembles all the major
parts of a knife.

Custom Knife - A knife made by a knife maker to his own specifications.

Custom Made Knife - A knife made to the specifications of someone other than the knife maker.

Customized Knife - A knife with attributes requested or
supplied by someone other than the knife maker. This would include
artwork, decorative filework, serrations, finger grooves, handle material, etc not normally offered by the knife maker. This term may be applied to modified kit knives or modified factory knives.

Neo-Tribal: - A school of knife making that emphasises the enjoyment of the knife making process. N-T combines ancient and modern tools, materials, and techniques which can include such things as harvesting their own wood, using rosins instead of glue, and forging in charcoal or coal fires. N-T keeps the use of electricity to a minimum, prefers creative solutions over technology, while encouraging high-quality, original hand craftsmanship, innovation, and the efficient use of resources.

Forged Blade: A blade whose initial shape is created using hand guided forging equipment such as hydraulic presses, power hammers, treadle hammers, fly presses, etc.

Hand Forged Blade: A blade whose initial shape is created in a forging process using only manual tools such as hammers, fullers, etc.

Sole Authorship: All of the major components of the knife were made by a single knife maker. This includes exotic materials such as damascus and mokume but not minor components such as pins, pivots, bolts, screws, rivets, and similar items. Any embellishment such as engraving, scrimshaw, carving, etc must be done by the knife maker. All processes such as heat treat, cryo, coatings, plating, etc must be done by the knife maker. Any accessories specifiacally made for this knife must be made by the knife maker.

Hand Crafted, Hand Made - any combination of hand tools and hand controlled power tools.

Mid-Tech - The blade, handle, or scales were blanked out by some automated process for which the maker supplied directions but the knife was otherwise assembled and finished by hand.



The following are provisional and will change eventually:
-------

One of a Kind - You made one and only one knife of this design and
will never make another. This refers to the DESIGN of
the knife. If another identical design knife with a
different handle material then neither one of them
qualifies as One of a Kind.


Kit-Tech - All or most of the parts of your knife were produced by
automated processes. Finish work may or may not be by
hand and heat treat may or may not be done by you


WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? The prevailing opinion seems to be that you can call your knives handmade, or handcrafted, or custom, or whatever you want so long as you explain honestly and completely to your customer exactly how you made your knife. That's fine as far as it goes but it fails to address 'the big picture'. The knowledgeable knife buying public does care - sometimes intensely - how that knife was made and it's no problem to explain your procedures to someone who is standing in front of you but what about when you aren't face to face? What about when someone is trading your knife or buying it through a dealer? What about when your knives are handed down through a few generations or acquired 20 years after you're dead and gone? You don't care? Fine, stop reading.

But, think about this: if the definition of 'handmade' were standardized and generally accepted then anyone who came across a knife with that word as part of its description would know immediately how it was made (within certain limits) even a century later and without ever talking to the maker. That could be a real plus for the person lucky enough to find a knife by a relatively unknown (or completely unknown) maker.

This also works well at a knife show where the potential customer could talk to you if he chooses - and it could save you a lot of time weeding out the real customers from those who are actually looking for something different than what you make. Imagine being able to walk down a row of tables with knives marked 'handmade', handcrafted', Mid-Tech', 'Primitive', etc and knowing immediately the general processes used to make that knife. No point in spending time talking to that 'Forged' guy if you know that what you really want would be labeled 'Primitive' even though the knives might look about the same on the table.

So, here's how this can work IF YOU WANT IT TO. Without you, this thread is nothing more than any of the others and will have the same effect, namely, zilch. I have listed the definitions that I use when thinking about how knives are made - this is our starting point. If you have a suggestion for a change to be made to these definitions or an additional definition you think should be added, then reply to this thread with that information. I'll either edit my definitions or I'll start a discussion or a Poll that will decide whether or not to edit the original definition. This way, the current definition will always be at the top of this thread. The next and most important part is up to you - you have to use these definitions as they stand whether you completely agree with them or not. Use them consistantly any time you reference these terms when you speak or write and especially if you use them on your blade mark. Be an advocate for the use of these definitions any time the opportunity presents itself. If you do this, then within a few years these terms will become common knowledge and the definitions will have been finally established. Or, you can choose to do nothing and let the chaos continue....